The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon.

The Flower Moon will be the fifth full moon of the year. The full moon will have some significance as it will be a penumbral lunar eclipse which will be visible in parts of Australia, Africa and Asia. NASA describes this as being when 'the Moon travels through Earth's penumbra, or the faint outer part of its shadow'. The moon dims so slightly that it can be difficult to notice.

Every month of the year there is a full moon which illuminates the sky each month and all are given a different name. Full moons occur when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth to the sun.



Why Flower Moon?

It is known as Flower Moon to signify the abundance of flowers that bloom during this month.

Other names for May's brightest Moon are Corn Planting Moon, Mother's Moon, and Milk Moon, this was because cows were milked three times a day. Some sources also refer to it as Hare Moon.

The May full moon marked a time of increasing fertility, with temperatures warm enough for safely bearing young, a near end to late frosts, and plants in bloom.



Why a full moon?

Full moons occur every 29.5 days or so as the moon moves to the side of Earth directly opposite the sun, reflecting the sun's rays off its full face and appearing as a brilliant, perfectly circular disk.

A full moon occurs when the moon's earth-facing side is completely illuminated by the sun. Scientists say that when you see the moon looking really large as it rises in the sky your brain is actually playing a trick on you.

There are many reasons as to why this is, but the main theory is that when the moon is low on the horizon it can be compared to earthly things, like buildings and trees, and this is why it seems huge.



How did the moon names originate?

There are a total of 12 full moon phases during the annual lunar cycle plus the occasional Blue Moon and each full moon has a unique name.

In 2023 we will have 13 full moons as in August there will be two full moons one being a Blue moon.

Many of these ancient moon names have been given based on the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather during that month.

It is said that they were the names given by Native American tribes and included into our modern calendar. However the full moon names we now use also have Anglo-Saxon and Germanic roots.



Sleep and a full moon

Because the moon affects the tides, it is often said that full moons can also influence us. Issues with our immune system can be caused by lack of sleep or disturbed sleep. Some people find falling asleep harder during a full moon along with less time spent in a deep sleep. This lack of sleep can sometimes cause people to have worse headaches often called 'moon migraines'.